libaba

You were beautiful before, but even more so now! I can't wait to be where you are! and then maybe I can go hike the Grand Canyon too!

It's funny that you mention Taco Bell! The day that my doc said I could eat normal food again I drove through and got a bean burrito. I was hungry and had not eaten and it sounded like the perfect ticket. I've not before or since felt like I was going to throw up as bad as I did after eating just a few bites of it, and it didn't even taste good to me at all! I won't even try to eat a tortilla at all now because I'm afraid I'm going to get sick! don't care if I ever eat there again!

Congrats to you & yours Tiffykins! I saw this first on FB too! I was almost 33 when I had my 2nd son (turned 34 the next month) and my boys are 11yrs, 10mths & 15 days apart! So happy for you!

Tiff, what is this about the Vitamin D? My 5 week bloodwork looked good except for my Vitamin D was low. I have been a somewhat slow loser thus far. Now that I've read this I'm wondering if that could be the culprit.

I am so glad that someone asked this question! This has been very informative for me. Even my doc was a little discouraging at my 5 week post-op visit because I have not lost as much as many of his patients. However, I'm not sure those of us in this weight range (which many consider to be lightweights) lose as quickly as those heavier. I seem to be in line with many that have replied. So it makes me feel a little better Thanks Weightbgone for starting this topic!

I'm 6 weeks out today and down 27 lbs from pre-op visit. Only a 1 day pre-op clear liquid diet.

I'm 5.5 weeks post op. Just started on "normal" foods last Wednesday, and had been doing pretty well. I've never thrown up or had diarrea post-op at all. I had one cup of decaf coffee this morning, and then half a cup of reg caff coffee (and have done this a few times before). Then I made pc of whole wheat toast w/peanut butter and one Morningstar Farm sausage patty. I could barely get through half of each and it was so caught in my throat.......felt like it was going to come up, but ultimately didn't. I had to drink some crystal light to try and get it down and it took a while for it to stop feeling like I was going to throw up. Then a couple of hours later I figured I would try one of my Atkins shakes which I normally drink every morning for Breakfast, and it went down fine, but about 20 minutes later my stomach started to cramp up and i had to run to the bathroom and it ALL came out and more. I've repeatedly been to the bathroom several more times and had to lay down on my stomach to calm it down. I seem to have a lot more heartburn than usual too. I've never been on a PPI. I just don't know what's going on and I'm hungry but afraid to eat anything else. I drank a little bit more crystal light a while ago and had go running back to the bathroom again. Has anyone else experienced this? What should I do?

I know you're not a medical professional, but I trust your opinion. I'm gonna go buy some Prilosec and give it a try! Thanks!

Tiffykins, I called my doctor this morning and asked about the PPI. Typically if I have a question I just talk to one of the office staff. They are normally very helpful. However, their opinion of these forums is not good. She said that I did not need a PPI. I guess it is not a standard part of their program. I still think that it may be an acid reflux problem too........not to mention I have definitely read on here that the PPI helps with hunger issues too. She just chalked it up to me possibly going back to normal foods too quickly and stepping back and taking it a little more slowly....also as you suggested. Can I just try an OTC PPI like Prilosec?

I used Dr Spivak and have been pretty happy thus far. I'm a self-pay and his price was reasonable and I was also referred to him by a friend. I went to Dr. Davis's seminar first, but they were about $7,000 more for self-pay sleeve patients! So I went with my friend's recommendation and I'm glad that I did. I'm almost 6 weeks post-op. I wish I could find a Houston support group near me!

This explains a lot! I thought it was just because I couldn't eat, drink or smoke anymore!

I was just waiting for you to jump in there Tiffykins! I have a feeling it might be the stomach acid issue as well. I'm going to call my doctor tomorrow and ask him about it. I have chewed down 2 Tums in the last hour or so because I felt the acid gurgling up. It has seemed to help for the moment. I will definitely try to slow down my taking in of the normal food and revert back to some softs for a few days. I was so happy to finally be at the stage where my Dr said it was ok to eat normal foods, and he actually did not want me to do any more liquids (like protein shakes). He wants me to try to get all of my protein from 3 meals a day - no snacks. I don't see how that is possible with the limited quantities we can take in.

I only got down 1/2 pc of wheat toast and 1/2 of a veggie sausage patty! That is nowhere near 3/4 cup of food. Yesterday morning I had about 3/4 of a scrambled egg, veggie sausage patty and pc of wheat toast............with no problems. So I don't understand what's different today.

I never see anyone talking about eating salad. I will be 4 weeks post-op on Wednesday, and still on mushies but hoping that after I see my doc next Tuesday that he will let me proceed to a more normal diet. I'm craving salad! Just a small spinach salad with grilled chicken and a little light raspberry vinagrette sounds awesome to me! Do VSG'rs tend to have a problem with salad? I hope not.........but do tell!

Well thanks for everyone's feedback. Looks like I may be waiting another month or two before that would work well for me. However, I know that I will need to incorporate some greens & veggies into my diet. As long as I'm getting in the protein that I need that should not be an issue. I love grilled chicken in a salad, and they are healthy carbs.

I'm saving this for future reference! I may try the string cheese melts tonight!

Sounds awesome to me! I may have to try it. I'm 4 weeks out and still on mushies for one more week! I'm also completely sick of all the same old stuff. Just tried the ricotta bake the other night, and that was a very nice change! Has anyone tried guacamole at this stage? or maybe I could just mash up an avocado or puree it with a little salt & pepper. I'm trying to be creative. I made chicken salad last night but I didn't care for it that much and it didn't really sit well either. the ground turkey mentioned above sounds really good too!

I quit 1/7/11 with Chantix and had surgery on 1/26/11. I had to stop taking the Chantix at least while I was in the hospital. I had such bad headaches from the withdrawal that I opted not to start taking them again. I felt really confident at the time that I would not go back to smoking. So far so good, but it is REALLY hard. I was a 30 yr 1 - 1.5 packs a day smoker. Now I've given up nicotine, caffeine, alcohol and food basically. I feel like there is no pleasure in my life. I also have a lot of stress due to my 23yr old son & his girlfriend just moving in with us. The urge to smoke has been terrible lately. I really enjoy saving the money, and not smelling like an ashtray........but I'm not sure how much longer I can fight the urge. I will be 4 weeks post-op tomorrow.

I made the ricotta bake last night, as I'm still on mushies. YUM! What a nice change of pace! I can't wait to try the egg bites. Assuming I should be on solids first for that.

I have been really worried about the non-drinking aspects of this - particularly when combined with the fact that I just quit smoking too. I was sleeved on 1/26 and I asked the nurse at my Dr office about it last week. She told me that they generally recommend no alcohol. I'm convinced that this is because it contains sugar and is considered empty calories. However, she said if I wanted to try 1/2 glass to go ahead. I did indeed with no problems. A few days after that I had a business cocktail party to attend and drank 2 cranberry/vodka small drinks. No problems there either. I'm just glad to know that I can enjoy it in moderation if need be. I'm still losing, and have not hit a stall yet either.

I chew gum. I'm 27 days post op. don't remember exactly when i decided i would try it. Probably at least a couple of weeks out. I'm never going to swallow it. Sometimes I just need to chew and have a taste in my mouth! Plus I quit smoking 3 weeks before surgery and still need it to help me curtail that too.

Pearland, TX here (Houston).......sleeved 1/26/11

@DisneyAddict - I quit smoking on 1/7 with Chantix and had surgery on 1/26. So stopped taking the Chantix on the day of surgery and never started it back. Now with all of the ways I'm feeling deprived currently - no nicotine, no alcohol, no food, etc I'm finding myself having really strong urges to start smoking again. I know I shouldn't for many obvious reasons, and really enjoy saving the money and not smelling like an ashtray. I wish I could truly enjoy going to the gym, but I just don't - at least not yet. I just need to find something enjoyable to do with myself. I feel like I go home and can't do anything except walk for a little bit and watch TV. It's a daily struggle with all of that.

I took Miralax based on responses I got on here at day 11 post-op. I take it 1-2 times a week if I start to have problems again. I've had no problem with it at all.

I had my surgery on a Wednesday, and went back to work the following Wednesday - office job - sedentary. No problems at all.